Ethnic Korean golfers sweep 5 consecutive LPGA championships

Female Korean golfers are dominating the U.S. LPGA tour in the early days of this season. When only considering the four wins they garnered in the five tournaments convened since the season’s opening, the LPGA tour seems like a Korean tour. A writer for a U.S. golf magazine this reporter met at the LPGA Honda Thailand last week made a suggestive joke, saying, “It seems we now have news stories to do only when a non-Korean golfer wins a championship.” Including Lydia Ko, a Korean New Zealander golfer, Koreans and ethnic Koreans swept all the championships held so far this season.

Female Korean golfers collectively garnered a total of 10 championship titles last year after Park In-bee clinched the first win in June. They are making headway immediately after the season’s opening in this season. It appears to be just a matter of time that they surpass the previous record of 11 wins, which female Korean golfers achieved twice in 2006 and 2011, respectively.

Female Korean golfers’ strides have been made possible due to harmony between senior and junior golfers who boast strong capacity and performance. Choi Na-yeon and Yang Hee-young, who had no win last year, worked harder in training than ever before ahead of the season’s opening, and elevated their capacity and performance. Park In-bee, who ranked second in overall purse money and missed the player of the year award to Stacy Lewis last year, also intensified her training.

As the Korean LPGA has made robust growth with around 30 championships now convened every year, KLPGA has produced promising young golfers en masse, which has also affected female Korean golfers’ strides in LPGA. The Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics in 2015 is driving Korean golfers to step up efforts as well. Up to four golfers among Korean golfers who rank 15th or higher in the global rankings as of July next year can participate in the Olympics.

Until several years ago, Korean golfers’ robust performance would backfire because they were accused of damaging the popularity of the LPGA tour. Even controversy over racial discrimination flared up, as some critics demanded that LPGA oblige players to take an English proficiency test. However, the mood shifted recently. Mike Wan, commissioner of the LPGA Tour who was inaugurated in 2010, is spearheading the globalization of the tour going beyond the U.S. market.

Commissioner Wan said, “Stellar performance of Asian players including Koreans generate new fans and partners, and thus help galvanize the tour. They are ambassadors who are spearheading LPGA’s globalization.” Korean players were previously accused of being selfish and only focused on their performance at tournaments, but they are now more proactive in charitable activities and donations as well. They also try hard to give interviews in English despite lack of language proficiency, which also present positive image of them.

kjs0123@donga.com